XAS investigation of tantalum and niobium in nanostructured TiO2 anatase

Sol-gel routes were used to prepare Ta 10 at% and Nb 5 at% and 10 at% doped titania nanosized powders. When fired between 410°C and 850°C the doped titania powders are in the anatase phase; further heating up to 1050°C is required to obtain the rutile phase. The presence of dopant atoms delays the rate of transformation as compared with pure titania powders. Doping also affects the rate of grain growth and increases the conductance response to gas. To better understand the role played by dopant atoms in inhibiting both phase transformation to rutile and grain growth, X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy measurements were performed at the L_III-L_I absorption edges of Ta and Nb K absorption edge. Analysis was restricted to the anatase phase because the transformation to rutile phase, obtained by firing at 1050°C, is accompanied by the formation of undesired Ta and Nb oxides (Ta₂O₅ and Nb₂TiO₇, respectively). Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure and X-ray Absorption Near-Edge Spectroscopy analysis results indicate that in nanostructured anatase both tantalum and niobium atoms substitute Ti cations with +5 valence state.